Greg Norman lays out LIV Golf 'sleeping giant' plan despite being told to step aside
Greg Norman lays out LIV Golf 'sleeping giant' plan despite being told to step aside
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Greg Norman may no longer be in charge of LIV Golf, but he still has some strong opinions on its future – including his desire for an event to be hosted in India. The former CEO and commissioner of the breakaway league, who was replaced by Scott O'Neil last month, was in attendance at the Asian Tour's International Series event in Gurugram, India, last week. The Asian Tour and LIV have close ties and although Norman – the driving force behind the split from the PGA Tour in 2021 – is no longer leading the rebel circuit, he remains affiliated with the league.
Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey, and Joaquin Niemann were among the star names from LIV who played in the tournament, which drew impressive crowds and was won by American Ollie Schniederjans. Norman, 69, believes India is a "sleeping giant" in the sport of golf, and it should be an area of focus for LIV as it looks to expand. "One of my initial focus points was to invest in the sleeping giant, which was the Asian tour. India is a sleeping giant when it comes to golf," Norman told Eastern Eye. "You just look what’s happening in India with the game of golf – it has only just started, right? For the next 25 years, which is a generation, India is right in the middle of them.
"I [would] love for LIV to come to India because, to me, it’s significant, right? Everything takes baby steps. And, obviously, the international place to enter the league is important to do that.". Norman believes LIV's team model makes it an appealing product to take to new markets and immediately resonate with fans. He said: "LIV created a new dynamic for the game of golf, because it gave an opportunity in the competitive golfing world for a new business model... Different formats have come out and enticed millions and millions of people to come into the game of golf.
"I truly believe LIV will be the true global platform for golf. We want to be in all the continents of the world. We bring a product that’s a plug-and-play that’s never been done before. We bring franchise models. We’re bringing the youth side of it.". LIV's new season begins in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. It will be the first tournament without Norman as the face of the league. Ripper Golf Club captain and fellow Australian Cam Smith paid tribute to Norman's efforts.
